Scrubbing-machine.



A. LEIGH. SURUBBING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 111N220, 1910.

979,773. Patented Dec.27, 1910.

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A. LEIGH;-

SGRUBBING MACHINE.

APPLICATION rum) mm: 20, 1910.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

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ABNER LEIGH, F OSCEOLA, ARKANSAS.

SCRUBBING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

Application filed June 20, 1910. Serial No. 567,895.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABNER LEIGH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Osceola,

in the county of Mississippi, State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Scrubbing-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to scrubbing machines and has special reference to a scrubbing machine adapted to be driven by a spring motor and to be wheeled around from place to place over a floor or other surface to be scrubbed.

The principal object of the invention is to improve the general construction of devices of this character with special reference to the manner of supporting and regulating the scrubbing element.

WVith the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in general of a wheeled frame supporting a spring motor arranged to drive a scrubbing element, the latter being supported and adjusted in a novel and improved manner.

The invention further consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically set forth in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and :Figure 1 is a view from the right side of a scrubbing machine constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of such a machine. Fig. 3 is a view from the left side of the scrubbing machine, the handle by which the machine is moved being cut off. Fig. l is a detail section through a portion of the machine showing the manner in which the scrubbing element is supported.

The complete frame of the machine is formed of two side frames which are connected by suitable braces 11. These side frames serve to support axles 12 whereon are journaled ground wheels 13. Extending outward from one of the side frames is a handle bar 14 whereon is a handle 15 by means of which the machine is moved from place to place. Supported between the side frames 10 is a spring motor which is indicated in general at A. This motor includes a spring shaft 16 to which one end of the main spring 17 is aflixed and this spring shaft is rotated to wind the main spring by a pawl and ratchet mechanism 18 actuated by a hand lever 19. The spring motor further includes a crank disk 20 whereon is a crank pin 21. 011 the shaft supporting the crank disk 20 indicated at 22 is a brake drum 23 against which bears one end of a brake lever 24 which is pivoted to a bar 25 extending between the frames. At 26 is a bracket which carries a nut 27 wherethrough passes a screw 28 one end of which bears against the upper end of the brake lever 21 while the other end is provided with a handled crank 28.

The motor is wound by moving the lever 19 to and fro and meanwhile during this winding the crank 28 is so rotated as to cause the brake lever to frictionally-engage the brake drum 23 and hold said drum from rotating. When it is desired that the crank disk 20 should rotate the crank 28 is moved to lessen the. friction between the lever 24 and drum 23 and by regulating the degree of friction the speed of rotation is also regulated.

Extending forwardly from the side frames 10 are arms 29 wherethrough passes a rock shaft 30. On this rock shaft are carried guides 31 which are held in spaced relation by a spacing block 32. These guides are further spaced at their forward end by a spacing block 33 so that the guides are maintained in parallel relation. The rock shaft is provided with a forwardly extending arm 34: which is so formed that its extremity enters a suitable aperture 35 formed in the outer of said guides 31. These guides 31 are provided on their opposed sides with grooves 36 and in these grooves a brush back 37 is slidably mounted, said brush back being provided with brush bristles 38. Connectlng the crank pin 21 and the brush back 37 is a link 39 and by means of this connection the rotation of the crank disk reciprocates the brush. Extending upward from the left hand end of the rock shaft 30 is a rock arm 40 to the upper end of which is pivotally connected an adjusting bar ll, the rear portion of which passes through a suitable guide 42 attached to the left hand side frame 10. The under side of this rear portion is provided with a series 'of notches 43 adapted to receive the handle bar 14 and this adjusting bar is, furthermore, provided with a handle 43. By means of this arrangement the brush may be raised from or brought in contact with the floor, all that is necessary to accomplish these purposes being to raise the handle 43 until the notches 43 clear the bar 14. Then the adjusting bar is pushed forward or drawn backward as the case may be. This rotates the rock shaft Which, by reason of the peculiar arrangement of the arm 34, raises or lowers the guides and consequently the brush.

In the operation of the device the motor is wound'as previously described. The floor, having been provided with a coating of cleaning material such as soap and water, is then scrubbed by lowering the brush into contact with the floor and releasing the brake sufficiently to permit the motor to run. When the floor has been scrubbed the brake may be again set and the brush raised so that the machine may be rolled to some other point. There has thus been provided a simple and eflicient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

In a scrubbing machine, the combination with a wheeled supporting frame, a motor supported on said frame and including a crank disk and pin, and means to regulate said motor; of a rock shaft extending transversely across the front of said frame, a pair of spaced guides extending forwardly from said rock shaft, a forwardly extending arm formed on said rock shaft and attached to one of said guides, a brush reciprocable in said guides, a link connecting said brush and crank pin, a rock arm extending up from said shaft, a handle bar extending laterally from said frame, a handle on said handle bar, and an adjusting bar connected to the end of said rock arm and provided with a series of notches adapted to receive said handle bar.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ABNER LEIGH:

Witnesses:

LEN PARHAM, I EUGENE OAssIDY; 

